Doing all the right things with no reward, help!

Maybe get a pair of scales that shows fat and muscle composition and then you'll know whether it's turned into muscle or if you're doing something wrong diet wise. Look at other peoples food diaries too who have been successful and see what they have been eating to get results.

I agree with BlueObsidian ... sounds like you're not eating enough.

Minor point "doing weights fat turns to muscle" ... fat doesn't turn into muscle.

If you are excersizing that much try eating your full 1200 cals. 2 lbs a week for 5'1" at 134 is STEEP when your lifting and possibly gaining equal muscle. Stick with it hit those target areas and it will come through for you.

I agree that when doing weights fat turns to muscle, which weighs more,

ummm...no, fat doesn't 'turn into muscle'. There are about 1000 threads in the forum about this...(its a complete myth)

Trying to lose 2 pounds a week is WAY too ambitious of a goal when you are already only 134 pounds. Setting your target to 1 pound a week, or even 0.5 pounds, is a much healthier and more sustainable way to lose. Food is fuel for your body, and 800 calories is much too low, especially if you are exercising regularly!

This...and I also agree with the person who suggested you watch your sodium intake!

Starting any kind of strength training routine inevitably leads to some "gains' on the scale and aren't really gains...its more water retention for your sore muscles. Above all...give it time. The less a person has to lose, the slower its going to come off.

I would consider myself a pretty healthy person, I eat right and exercise just about everyday. I have been trying my hardest to lose weight for the past few months, more seriously in the last month, and so I set my goal to 2 pounds per week (hoping for more) which brings me to 1200 calories a day.

I started the month out at 134.6, the next week 134, and then the following two weeks at 136.6 and I am 5'1. I count my calories very accurately, not even leaving out almost negligible condiments but to no avail I feel like all that is happening is I am getting larger, both in looks and scale wise.

I am also on the low carb diet, not taking in more than 20-25 per day and keep my calories from 800-1200 per day. I do cardio 4 times a week and weights 2-3 times per week.

Is it just me or does it seem that any other person would be losing weight? I agree that when doing weights fat turns to muscle, which weighs more, yet would still not account for increasing measurements as well.

So frustrating!!!

For you, the bolded things are bad ideas based on the information you gave in this thread. Also, congrats, your weight fluctuates, you are human. If it didn't, I'd be worried. That doesn't mean you're losing fat. Also if you consistently gain get a food scale, you're over estimating everything.

Set your goal to smaller, eat more, log your exercise calories, eat those calories back, eat carbs if you are exercising that much on a deficit you are not going to have enough energy in your body to repair them (carbs help with that). When you exercise your measurements will temporary increase as carbs etc go to those organs/muscles to repair. It drops off when it finishes that job. You don't want to stop your body from doing that. Yes, lean people have that too.

Remember when you set your weight loss goal?
There was a message saying "recommended 1lb a week loss". You set 2lb a week.

You got a target of 1200 calories a day and you have decided to under eat.

You should be eating back your exercise calories but you have decided not to.


So don't you think you need to re-evaluate your statement "doing all the right things"?

I'm also 51". I started MFP at the end of Dec. 2012 at 138 and now weigh in at 128. I set MFP so I lose 1 pound a week and it gave me 1200 cals. I work out 6 days a week burning between 600-700 cals.
I eat back 2/3 of my exercise cals. For the most part except when I'm hungrier than normal- then I eat all my exercise cals back. Every so often I eat over my exercise cals back.
I eat tons of veggies, some fish, chicken, beans, eggs, almond butter, oatmeal/musli and not too much bread and pasta but some.
I eat a lot and I'm very satisfied hunger wise and happy with my weightloss.
Only 3 more pounds to go.
My point is- I think you're not eating enough for all the exercise your doing but your diary is closed so I can't see.
Oh, and I also log everyday-everything I eat.

I do low carb but you are taking in WAYYYYYY too little carbs for someone active. You're doing hardcore Atkins induction. At your weight and activity level I am not surprised you are struggling. Plus, your calories are also pretty low for an active person who works out daily. And I doubt you're building any muscle at that calorie deficit.

Thanks for all of the advice, I guess even the sarcastic "duh, you should know this" advice

We were all noobs once, ask questions, analyze answers.

It was one of those moments I felt like giving up and I am new to this site, so pardon the lack of concise workings of the body and the exact etiquette of message boards, I was just looking for insight.

Your patience will grow and then you will look back and get irritated at all the impatient noobs lol. Seriously though, our weight will go up at points even while we are losing. Doesn't necessarily mean we are gaining any bad stuff. For the most part we can only lose what fat and muscle we have (both of them, not just one) while on a calorie deficit. You won't gain any significant muscle or fat, even if you are exercising. And it's good you asked, now you know, and aren't going to worry about it so much right

I will try to eat more but it is hard to force yourself to eat more when not hungry, I will give it a go nonetheless.

I know what you mean, many of us were there. I'd recommend reading up on weight loss and how it works. Here's a post I made about it:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/637094-cinderella-s-weight-loss-knowledge

It may just be the "I want to lose weight sooooooooo bad" mentality that keeps saying, "no, no , no" to more food. I blame it on bathing suit season.

Yes, uunfortunately it doesn't just hop off :P

Also, when I said fat turns to muscle I was meaning to say muscle replaces fat, you lose fat and you can gain muscle so there is a weight difference there, and I have noticed a difference in my muscles, more pronounced anyways.

If you look up studies on weight loss you well notice you lose a ratio of fat and muscle. With strength training and adequate protein, you will be able to retain more muscle, enabling you to burn more calories with a slimmer waist band

I guess for now I will store my scale in a dark place and focus on one day at a time. Maybe find some motivation mantras

I don't mind numbers going everywhere as long as I realize why. I'm big on examining Data. But if you find that you put yourself down if the number goes up occasionally (and it well, if you are a healthy human), then take out the measuring tape and don't measure to often either....that crap fluctuates allot :P